BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has made a telling scoreline prediction for Manchester United’s forthcoming Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Manchester United have endured a tough start to the 2024-25 Premier League season under Erik ten Hag, who has faced mounting criticism over his side’s results.
Erik ten Hag’s side languish in 13th place in the Premier League table after managing only two league wins from their first six matches.
United were humiliated at Old Trafford last Sunday after their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, with Bruno Fernandes controversially sent off in the clash.
Ten Hag’s men were in action on Thursday evening in the Europa League and United salvaged a point in their 3-3 draw against Porto in Portugal.
United were leading Porto 2-0 in the opening 20 minutes at the Estadio do Dragao, only to blow their advantage against Vitor Bruno’s men before half-time.
Samu Omorodion fired Porto into the lead only five minutes into the second half before Harry Maguire scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser for United.
Sutton on Villa ahead of Man Utd clash
Aston Villa have had a strong start to the season and have won four of their opening six Premier League matches under former Arsenal manager Unai Emery.
Unai Emery also caused a stunning upset over Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich on Wednesday with a 1-0 win at Villa Park in the Champions League.
Speaking in his BBC Sport column, Chris Sutton admitted that there is a “worry” for Aston Villa over injuries after their remarkable victory over Bayern Munich.
“The worry for Aston Villa is injuries – Amadou Onana limped off against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and Leon Bailey had to be subbed after coming on,” he said.
“I was at Villa Park for 5 Live and saw Bailey warming up on his own with a fitness coach before the game, so I suspect that was injury-related too, and I am also concerned about Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who was brilliant against Bayern, because it looked like he had a hamstring issue.”
Sutton’s Aston Villa vs Man Utd prediction
Erik ten Hag is under immense pressure for United to return to winning ways in the Premier League, with speculation mounting over the Dutchman’s future at United.
Sutton believes that the Red Devils are “desperate for a result” and has a strong “feeling” that Ten Hag’s men could snatch a point from their trip to Villa Park.
The BBC Sport pundit backed a 1-1 scoreline for the Premier League clash, with Sutton predicting that Villa could “feel drained” after Wednesday’s result.
“But the main problem here is that I am writing this before Manchester United play Porto in the Europa League and, if they lose that, I may revisit my prediction for Sunday,” Sutton continued.
“If United are well beaten on Thursday, it could be the end for United boss Erik ten Hag if he also loses at Villa Park, especially if it is another bad defeat – the way you lose is important as well.
“If they get an absolute battering here, forget Erik ten Hag because it will be more like Erik ten minutes.
“I am not expecting that to happen, though. United are desperate for a result and I have a feeling they might get something here.
“I just wonder if after all the emotion of Wednesday night, Aston Villa feel drained and find it hard to raise themselves again.
“The atmosphere will definitely not be the same as it was, at 2pm on a Sunday, and that will help United – as well as any Villa absentees, because they are stretched.”
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